There’s nothing quite like arriving at Labor Day, leaning back and thinking, “That was one hell of a summer.” On the other hand, you might find yourself wondering why the hell you didn’t do more. The easiest way to avoid this tragedy is to embrace summer Fridays, seize the long weekend and spend some vacation days on making the most of the three months when the northern half of the country becomes pleasant and the southern half remains so. Head to the beach and take in equal opportunities to exhaust yourself with activity and wallow in sloth, catching a tan either way. Want to get the most bang for your buck? As we found during our hunt for winter cabins, the best way to get the best places for the least cash is Airbnb. We scoured the US (and beyond) and found 14 of the best cabins, houses, villas and cottages to make the most of this summer.
Cliffside Serenity in Machiasport, Maine
Bedrooms: 2
Number of Guests: 4
Nearby: Bangor, ME (2 hours), Acadia National Park
Best For: A quick escape from the nation’s capital to a beautiful bit of prefab architecture.
